Japanese Art Tattoo Designs are known for their bold lines, historic patterns and imagery, and total body coverage. The techniques for tattooing that developed in Japan used hand tools, and it wasn’t until the mid 20th century that machines first came to Japanese tattooing. Whereas Western tattooing often grows as a varied collection, in Japanese tattooing there are often larger-scale full sleeve or leg tattoos, and entire bodysuit tattoos which cover from neckline to wrists to ankles.